God is My Anchor

1. God is My Anchor The story of GajendraMoksha

2. Gajendra through his experience in life comes to the realization that God is his anchor. Once he reaches that stage he become oblivious to the terrible danger he is in and the pain he is feeling. WE all aspire to be like him. We will go deep into his story to find out how did he do it. This is a two part presentation!

3. SB 8.2.1 — ŚukadevaGosvāmī said: My dear King, there is a very large mountain called Trikūṭa. It is ten thousand yojanas [eighty thousand miles] high. Being surrounded by the Ocean of Milk, it is very beautifully situated.

4. SB 8.2.2-3 — The length and breadth of the mountain are of the same measurement [eighty thousand miles]. Its three principal peaks, which are made of iron, silver and gold, beautify all directions and the sky. The mountain also has other peaks, which are full of jewels and minerals and are decorated with nice trees, creepers and shrubs. The sounds of the waterfalls on the mountain create a pleasing vibration. In this way the mountain stands, increasing the beauty of all directions.

5. SB 8.2.4 — The ground at the foot of the mountain is always washed by waves of milk that produce emeralds all around in the eight directions [north, south, east, west and the directions midway between them].

6. SB 8.2.5 — The inhabitants of the higher planets — the Siddhas, Cāraṇas, Gandharvas, Vidyādharas, serpents, Kinnaras and Apsarās — go to that mountain to sport. Thus all the caves of the mountain are full of these denizens of the heavenly planets.

7. SB 8.2.6 — Because of the resounding vibrations of the denizens of heaven singing in the caves, the lions there, being very proud of their strength, roar with unbearable envy, thinking that another lion is roaring in that way. The Energy wasted in proving my greatness………. Envy even in heaven but there is no envy in the spiritual world!

8. SB 8.2.7 — The valleys beneath Trikūṭa Mountain are beautifully decorated by many varieties of jungle animals, and in the trees, which are maintained in gardens by the demigods, varieties of birds chirp with sweet voices. SB 8.2.8 — Trikūṭa Mountain has many lakes and rivers, with beaches covered by small gems resembling grains of sand. The water is as clear as crystal, and when the demigod damsels bathe in it, their bodies lend fragrance to the water and the breeze, thus enriching the atmosphere.

9. SB 8.2.9-13 — In a valley of Trikūṭa Mountain there was a garden called Ṛtumat. This garden belonged to the great devotee Varuṇa and was a sporting place for the damsels of the demigods. Flowers and fruits grew there in all seasons. Among them were mandāras, pārijātas, pāṭalas, aśokas, campakas, cūtas, piyālas, panasas, mangoes, āmrātakas, kramukas, coconut trees, date trees and pomegranates. There were madhukas, palm trees, tamālas, asanas, arjunas, ariṣṭas, uḍumbaras, plakṣas, banyan trees, kiṁśukas and sandalwood trees. There were also picumardas, kovidāras, saralas, sura-dārus, grapes, sugarcane, bananas, jambu, badarīs, akṣas, abhayas and āmalakīs.

10. SB 8.2.14-19 — In that garden there was a very large lake filled with shining golden lotus flowers and the flowers known as kumuda, kahlāra, utpala and śatapatra, which added excellent beauty to the mountain. There were also bilva, kapittha, jambīra and bhallātaka trees. Intoxicated bumblebees drank honey and hummed with the chirping of the birds, whose songs were very melodious. The lake was crowded with swans, kāraṇḍavas, cakrāvakas, cranes, and flocks of water chickens, dātyūhas, koyaṣṭis and other murmuring birds. Because of the agitating movements of the fish and tortoises, the water was decorated with pollen that had fallen from the lotus flowers. The lake was surrounded by kadamba flowers, vetasa flowers, nalas, nīpas, vañjulakas, kundas, kurubakas, aśokas, śirīṣas, kūṭajas, iṅgudas, kubjakas, svarṇa-yūthīs, nāgas, punnāgas, jātīs, mallikās, śatapatras, jālakās and mādhavī-latās. The banks were also abundantly adorned with varieties of trees that yielded flowers and fruits in all seasons. Thus the entire mountain stood gloriously decorated.

11. The elephant Gajendraenters

12. SB 8.2.20 — The leader of the elephants who lived in the forest of the mountain Trikūṭa once wandered toward the lake with his female elephants. He broke many plants, creepers, thickets and trees, not caring for their piercing thorns. SB 8.2.21 — Simply by catching scent of that elephant, all the other elephants, the tigers and the other ferocious animals, such as lions, rhinoceroses, great serpents and black and white sarabhas, fled in fear. The camarī deer also fled. SB 8.2.22 — By the mercy of this elephant, animals like the foxes, wolves, buffalos, bears, boars, gopucchas, porcupines, monkeys, rabbits, the other deer and many other small animals loitered elsewhere in the forest. They were not afraid of him.

13. SB 8.2.23-24 — Surrounded by the herd’s other elephants, including females, and followed by the young ones, Gajapati, the leader of the elephants, made Trikūṭa Mountain tremble all around because of the weight of his body. He was perspiring, liquor dripped from his mouth, and his vision was overwhelmed by intoxication. He was being served by bumblebees who drank honey, and from a distance he could smell the dust of the lotus flowers, which was carried from the lake by the breeze. Thus surrounded by his associates, who were afflicted by thirst, he soon arrived at the bank of the lake.

14. SB 8.2.25 — The King of the elephants entered the lake, bathed thoroughly and was relieved of his fatigue. Then, with the aid of his trunk, he drank the cold, clear, nectarean water, which was mixed with the dust of lotus flowers and water lilies, until he was fully satisfied. • SB 8.2.26 — Like a human being who lacks spiritual knowledge and is too attached to the members of his family, the elephant, being illusioned by the external energy of Kṛṣṇa, had his wives and children bathe and drink the water. Indeed, he raised water from the lake with his trunk and sprayed it over them. He did not mind the hard labor involved in this endeavor.

15. Gajendra’s Opulent Life

16. SB 8.2.27 — By the arrangement of providence, O King, a strong crocodile was angry at the elephant and attacked the elephant’s leg in the water. The elephant was certainly strong, and he tried his best to get free from this danger sent by providence. Calamity

17. SB 8.2.28 — Thereafter, seeing Gajendra in that grave condition, his wives felt very, very sorry and began to cry. The other elephants wanted to help Gajendra, but because of the crocodile’s great strength, they could not rescue him by grasping him from behind. Defense

18. Importance of being situated in our natural position • SB 8.2.29 — O King, the elephant and the crocodile fought in this way, pulling one another in and out of the water, for one thousand years. Upon seeing the fight, the demigods were very surprised. Struggle

19. SB 8.2.30 — Thereafter, because of being pulled into the water and fighting for many long years, the elephant became diminished in his mental, physical and sensual strength. The crocodile, on the contrary, being an animal of the water, increased in enthusiasm, physical strength and sensual power. Result

20. Moment of Self Awareness • SB 8.2.31 — When the King of the elephants saw that he was under the clutches of the crocodile by the will of providence and, being embodied and circumstantially helpless, could not save himself from danger, he was extremely afraid of being killed. He consequently thought for a long time and finally reached the following decision. Look Inward Pause!!! To Begin

21. Realization Social Status SB 8.2.32 — The other elephants, who are my friends and relatives, could not rescue me from this danger. What then to speak of my wives? They cannot do anything. It is by the will of providence that I have been attacked by this crocodile, and therefore I shall seek shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is always the shelter of everyone, even of great personalities.

22. What is my shelter in difficult times? ….objects I have developed a relationship with and have attachment for

23. Social Status

24. What does the crocodile represent? Miseries caused by ones own body and mind Miseries caused by other living entities Miseries caused by natural causes Maya

25. Characteristics of the crocodile Ugly, Big mouth meant to swallow completely, camouflage, silent, many teeth, slippery mouth, strong, sly, powerful

26. Crocodile compared with Maya • Material world is ugly • because it is separate from Krishna- only a she crocodile finds a he crocodile attractive, the cheaters and the cheated • Big Mouth • We do not realize we are in it since the mouth is so big- it takes us one shot • Camouflage: • Maya comes camouflaged as innocent pleasure • Spiritual justification, Self deception • Silent: • Maya enters our lives quietly if we do not have the proper vision to see through the camouflage • Many teeth: • to hold us in place and cause pain. Some soft some sharp. • Slippery: • Once we slip hard to find our balance again on our own • Strong, Sly , Powerful BhagavadGita 7.14 daivīhyeṣāguṇa-mayīmama māyāduratyayāmāmeva ye prapadyantemāyāmetāṁtarantite This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.

27. Environment , People, Money, Health, old Age, Death Our need for control: Why?To be happy & to feel safe

28. A square peg goes through a lot of pain to fit into a round hole We are looking for happiness and safety in a place which is dukhalayamashashwatam and anityamasukhamlokam! BhagavadGita 9.33 kiṁpunarbrāhmaṇāḥpuṇyābhaktārājarṣayastathāanityamasukhaṁlokamimaṁprāpyabhajasvamām How much more this is so of the righteous brāhmaṇas, the devotees and the saintly kings. Therefore, having come to this temporary, miserable world, engage in loving service unto Me. BhagavadGita 8.15 māmupetyapunarjanmaduḥkhālayamaśāśvatamnāpnuvantimahātmānaḥsaṁsiddhiṁparamāṁgatāḥ After attaining Me, the great souls, who are yogīs in devotion, never return to this temporary world, which is full of miseries, because they have attained the highest perfection.

29. SB 8.2.33 — The Supreme Personality of Godhead is certainly not known to everyone, but He is very powerful and influential. Therefore, although the serpent of eternal time, which is fearful in force, endlessly chases everyone, ready to swallow him, if one who fears this serpent seeks shelter of the Lord, the Lord gives him protection, for even death runs away in fear of the Lord. I therefore surrender unto Him, the great and powerful supreme authority who is the actual shelter of everyone Krishna can only protect

30. Prahlada Maharaja prays in the same mood We may invent so many ways to be happy or to counteract the dangers of this material world, but unless our attempts are sanctioned by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they will never make us happy bälasyanehaçaraëaàpitaraunåsiàha närtasyacägadamudanvatimajjatonauù taptasya tat-pratividhiryaihäïjaseñöas tävadvibhotanu-bhåtäàtvad-upekñitänäm “My Lord Nåsiàhadeva, o Supreme, because of a bodily conception of life, embodied souls neglected and not cared for by you cannot do anything for their betterment. Whatever remedies they accept, although perhaps temporarily beneficial, are certainly impermanent. For example, a father and mother cannot protect their child, a physician and medicine cannot relieve a suffering patient, and a boat on the ocean cannot protect a drowning man.” (SMB 7.9.19)

31. Danger at every step This material world is a place where there is danger at every step samäçritä ye pada-pallava-plavaà mahat-padaàpuëya-yaçomuräreù bhavämbudhirvatsa-padaàparaàpadaà padaàpadaàyadvipadäànateñäm “For those who have accepted the boat of the lotus feet of the lord, who is the shelter of the cosmic manifestation and is famous as Muräri, the enemy of the Mura demon, the ocean of the material world is like the water contained in a calf's hoof-print. Their goal is paraàpadam, Vaikuëöha, the place where there are no material miseries, not the place where there is danger at every step.” (SMB -10.14.58) We may struggle for existence as far as our intelligence allows and may try to take care of ourselves, but unless the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kåñëa, ultimately saves us from danger, our attempts will be useless.

32. Thank you! Questions or comments?

33. Strong Faith